Speakership: Betara, Wase, others push for consensus candidate

Leading aspirants in the race for the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives have commenced moves to form alliance against the All Progressives Congress (APC) anointed candidate, Tajudeen Abbas. The aspirants, including Muktar Betara Aliyu; Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase; Majority Leader; Yusuf Gagdi; Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Sada Soli, have resolved to defy […]

Leading aspirants in the race for the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives have commenced moves to form alliance against the All Progressives Congress (APC) anointed candidate, Tajudeen Abbas.

The aspirants, including Muktar Betara Aliyu; Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase; Majority Leader; Yusuf Gagdi; Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Sada Soli, have resolved to defy the party’s zoning arrangement.

It was gathered that they took the decision after a meeting in Abuja yesterday.

Though Wase, Gagdi, Doguwa and Soli attended the official declaration on Betara in Abuja Monday after the party released its zoning arrangement, it was not immediately clear who the group plans to sponsor against the party’s anointed candidate.

Speaking at his declaration, Betara said the party and the president-elect, Bola Tinubu erred by anointing Tajudeen, whom he said was the least popular among those running for the speakership position.

“If today, the Deputy Speaker of the House is contesting, the Chairman of Appropriation is contesting, the Majority Leader is contesting, then, who’s closer to the speaker’s position?” he queried.

Meanwhile, an aspirant for the speakership, Benjamin Kalu has officially withdrawn from the race.

The party zoned the deputy speaker’s seat to South East and Kalu was favoured to run for the position.

He, however, declared his intention to run for the Office of deputy speaker.